Cessna 172N accident near Spring, Texas, November 22, 2006
On November 22, 2006 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N81HT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring, Texas (David Wayne Hooks Memorial Air airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of directional control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 2006 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Spring, Texas · David Wayne Hooks Memorial Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N81HT · registry record · serial 17272423
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 185-hour private pilot lost directional control of the fixed wing airplane while landing on runway 17R (a dry 7,009-foot-long by 100-foot-wide asphalt runway). The pilot stated in the accident report form (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that after he was cleared by air traffic control for a straight-in-approach, he executed a normal approach for landing. However, when the nose was lowered, the airplane "abruptly turned to right (immediately) and went off runway 17R, in spite of left rudder the airplane continued to go right." Several witnesses reported observing the airplane bounce once before it abruptly veered to the right of the runway. Another witness reported that the airplane made a normal landing, but suddenly veered to the right when the nose wheel contacted the ground. The airplane came to rest on "soft earth" on the right side of runway 17R. The pilot and the passenger egressed the cockpit normally through the cabin doors and were not injured. The pilot added that "he suspected that the nose wheel was stuck in the right position prior to the airplane touchdown." An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the site and reported the nose wheel and engine firewall were damaged; however, he could not determine if the damage was a result of the accident or from a preexisting deficiency. In addition, the inspector stated there were no mechanical deficiencies with the wheel brakes. Weather reported at the airport included wind from 240 degrees at 4 knots, clear skies, and 10 miles visibility. The reason for the loss of the directional control could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 185 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 124 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,373 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,307 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O360 H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hi-Tech Aviation Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KLFK Lufkin TX at 8:55 pm
- Destination: KDWH Spring TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 7,009 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:50 pm from KOHW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.